Sash cord fastener



n a 1 a 3 w H J w m 0 A a l \\\\\\\\\\\-\\\v f a y will I m a NY I I I I I a y H N n w I z w n M J r 2 l y 26, 1938- E'. H. CARLSON SASH CORD FASTENER Original Filed Marsh 12, 1936 Patented July 26, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFECE Application March 12, 1936, Serial No. 68,435 Renewed December 22, 1937 7 Claims.

This invention relates to sash cord fasteners, and particularly to such devices used in conjunction with vertically sliding windows or panels for removably securing one end of a sash cord to such windows or panels.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved sash cord fastener of simplified construction and low manufacturing cost; to provide an improved sash cord fastener that may be readily detached for the purpose of removing or renewing the sash cord witout removing the window or panel from its guiding frame; and to provide an improved sash cord fastener having a simplified arrangement for clamping a sash cord thereto which permits easy and rapid removal of the sash cord when the same is necessary.

A specific embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the lower corner of a window having a sash cord and fastener attached.

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation showing the inside face of the fastener.

Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation of the fastener.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3, illustrating the manner in which the sash cord is clamped to the fastener.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the body of the fastener. I

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the clamping block that is housed within the fastener body, and

Fig. '7 is a view in elevation showing a modified arrangement for attaching a tape type of sash cord to the fastener.

In the form shown in the drawing the improved sash cord fastener comprises a one piece tubular member or body I having a bore extending therethrough and a laterally extending leg 2 closing the bore at one end of the member and projecting therefrom thebore being inwardly tapered toward or adjacent the opposite end of the member. Housed within the tubular member or body l is a slidable rectangular block 3 which is of less thickness than the mean diameter of the said bore and of greater width than the diameter of the tapered end portion of the bore. Projecting outwardly and backwardly from one face of the block 3 are a plurality of pointed prongs 4.

As shown, the side wall of the tubular member I, adjacent the closed end is provided with an opening 5 formed by cutting away a portion of the side wall. The opening 5 is located on the side of the member I, from which the portion 2 projects, and is preferably of less width than the diameter of the bore and of less width than the clamping block 3, so that the inwardly converging margins of the opening 5 will serve to retain the block 3 within the member I.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the margins of the opening 5, at the upper end thereof, are arranged to converge toward the open end of the member I so as to form a V-shaped slot 6 in the side wall of the member I above the opening 5. 10

As shown in Figs. 3 and 6 the clamping block 3 is preferably wedge shaped in side elevation, that is, one end is thicker than the other. The thickness of the heavy end may be substantially onehalf the diameter of the small or open end of the 15 bore and the clamping block 3 is placed in the body I with the thick or heavy end at the top or toward the open end of the body. Also as shown in Fig. 6 the heavy or upper end of the block 3 is preferably cut or hollowed out, as at l on the 20 side from which the prongs 4 project so that, with the block 3 in place within the body I, the end of the sash cord 8 will readily pass over and beyond the end of the block 3 instead of abutting the end of the same and possibly making inser- 25 tion of the cord difficult.

The prongs 4, and particularly the uppermost prong, are preferably of such length as to project into the V-shaped slot 6 to a point substantially flush with the outer surface of the body I. 30 Thus the upper prong will engage the end of the slot 6 and limit movement of the block 3 toward the open end of the fastener when other means than the usual sash cord is being secured to the fastener, as illustrated in Fig. 7. 35

Thus the end of the sash cord 8, having been passed through the open end of the member I, may be passed through the fastener body over the end of the block 3 and pulled out through the opening 5, the clamping block 3 meanwhile rest- 40 ing against the closed end of the member I. The sash cord 8 is then pressed through the opening 5 against the pointed prongs 4 of the clamping block 3 and the portion of the cord extending through the open end of the member I is pulled 45 so as to draw the end of the sash cord and the clamping block toward the open end of the bore.

During this action the thick end of the clamping block 3 first tends to grip the sash cord causing the relatively free portion below to be 50 squeezed downwardly and swell, thus forming a relatively loose bulge in the free portion which is forced into the V-shaped slot 6 where the same is gripped by a wedging action between the converging margins of the slot 6. The thinner lower 55 end of the block 3 permits ample space for the bulging of the cord below the point where it is first gripped. Thus the cord is in one operation thrice secured, being first pinned on the backwardly extending prongs 4 projecting from the face of the clamping block 3, then clamped between the thick end of the clamping block 3 and the wall of the member I and finally wedged between the converging margins of the slot 6.

As shown in Fig. 1 the sash 9 of the window or i panel is usually provided with a longitudinal groove it in which the sash cord 8 is housed, and the fastener is seated in the groove it with the laterally projecting portion or leg 2 extending along the bottom edge of the sash, where it is secured to the sash by means of a screw or nail inserted in an opening 2.! provided adjacent the free end of the portion 2.

With this arrangement the vertical load upon the sash cord fastener is carried by the laterally projecting portion 2 rather than by the screw or other means employed to secure the fastener to the sash.

When it is desired to remove or renew the sash cord it is only necessary to raise the sash upwardly, remove the screw or other fastening means used to secure the fastener to the sash and then pull the fastener downwardly below the bottom edge of the sash. In this position the sash cord may be removed by simply pushing the same downwardly through the open end of the fastener, which action forces the cord out of the V-shaped groove 6 and causes the clamping block 3 to move downwardly so that the end of the sash cord may be pulled through the opening 5 and disengaged from the prongs i of the clamping block 3. The cord 8 is then pulled out of the fastener and a new cord can be readily applied, the end of the new cord being inserted in the open end of the fastener and engaged with the clamping biock as aforesaid.

In Fig. '7 the herein described sash cord fastener is shown applied to a tape type of sash cord H, this type of cord usually being in the form of a fiat flexible metal strip or tape having a metal loop l2 secured to its end. With this type of sash cord a double wire hook is employed to connect the loop l2 with the. fastener, the hook having two parallel legs l3 having inwardly turned or hooked ends M which may be engaged with the upper one of the prongs l of the clamping block 3. This prong being of such length as to engage in the slot 6, becomes wedged therein and securely holds the hooked ends M of the hook legs it so that the hook l2 can not become inadvertently detached from the fastener.

The main advantages of the improved sash cord fastener lie its simple construction and low cost of manufacture; and in its simple operation, which permits rapid and easy attachment and detachment of the sash cord. Also the improved fastener may be eifectively employed with a substantial range of sash cord sizes since the clamping block will merely adjust itself longitudinally in the fastener until the thick end of the block in cooperation with the tapered bore of the fastener, reaches a position where the cord will be securely clamped. Other advantages lie in the multiple clamping feature derived from the novel arrangement of the clamping block with its thick or heavy end positioned toward the open end of the fastener bore.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention is herein shown and described, it will be understood that certain details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims:

1. A device of the class described comprising a tubular member having a bore tapered inwardly toward one end and opening therethrough, a wedging block slidably mounted in said tubular member and having a greater width than the small end portion of said bore, said block having greater thickness at the end nearest said small end portion of said bore than at its oppoite end, and a plurality of backwardly extending pointed prongs projecting from one face of said block.

2. In a device of the class described, the com bination with a tubular member having a bore tapered inwardly adjacent one end and opening therethrough, said member having an opening in its side wall intermediate its ends, and the margins of said side wall opening converging toward said one end of said member, of a wedging block slidably mounted in said tubular member and having a greater width than the small end portion of said bore, said block being of less thickness than the smallest diameter of said bore and having a flat face, and a backwardly extending pointed prong projecting from said ilat face toward said side wall opening.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with a tubular member having a bore tapered inwardly adjacent one end and opening therethrough, said member having an opening in its side wall intermediate its ends, and the margins of said side wall opening converging to ward said one end of said member, of a wedging block slidably mounted in said tubular member and having a greater width than the small end portion of said bore, said block having greater thickness at the end nearest said small end portion of said bore than at its opposite end, and the thickness of the large end of said block being less than the smallest diameter of said bore.

a. In a device of the class described, the combination with a tubular member having a bore tapered inwardly adjacent one end and opening therethrough, said member having an opening in its side wallintermediate its ends, and the margins of said side wall opening converging toward said one end of said member, of a wedging block slidably mounted in said tubular member and having a greater width than the small end portion of said bore, said block being of less thickness than the smallest diameter of said bore and having a fiat face, and a backwardly extending pointed prong projecting from said fiat face toward said side wall opening, said prong being of sumcient length to engage the converging margins of said-side wall opening.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with a tubular member having a bore tapered inwardly adjacent one end and opening therethrough, said member having an opening in its side wall intermediate its ends, and the margins of said side wall opening converging toward said one end of said member, of a wedging block slidably mounted in said tubular member and having a greater width than the small end portions of said here, said block having greater thickness at the end nearest said small end portion of said bore than at its opposite end, the thickness of the large end of said block being less than the smallest diameter or" said bore, and a backwardiy extended pointed prong projecting from said block toward said side wall opening, said prong being of sufiicient length to engage the converging margins of said side wall opening.

6. A sash cord fastener comprising a tubular body having a bore therethrough opening at one end of said body and closed at the other end, said bore being tapered inwardly adjacent the open end of said body, said body having an opening in its side wall, the margins of which converge toward the open end of said body to form a V-shaped slot intermediate said opening and said open end, a slidable clamping block housed within said body, said block being of less thickness than said bore and of greater width than the tapered portion of said bore, and a backwardly extending pointed prong projecting from the face of said block toward said side-wall opening.

7. A sash cord fastener comprising a tubular body having a bore therethrough opening at one end of said body and closed at the other end, said bore being tapered inwardly adjacent the open end of said body, said body having an opening in its side wall, the margins of which converge toward the open end of said body to form a V-shaped slot intermediate said opening and said open end, a slidable clamping block housed within said body, said block being of less thickness than said bore and of greater width than the tapered portion of said bore, said block having greater thickness at the end nearest the open end of said body than at its opposite end, and a backwardly extending pointed prong projecting from the face of said block toward said sidewall opening.

ERNEST H. CARLSON. 

